Can I Make Central Air Filters?

Central air filters aid proceed your cardinal air conditioner running at summit functioning. If y'all're unsure about these filters, this guide is for you.

Popular quiz: What's the leading cause of a key air conditioner breakdown? Answer: A muddy filter.

Clogged and dusty filters block airflow, cause dirt to build upwards on the evaporator coils and ultimately tin can atomic number 82 to motor failure. Regularly replacing your air filters is the unmarried almost important thing yous can do to keep your central air conditioner running efficiently.

Ready for your crash course on filters? Permit'south get started!

What Are Central Air Filters?

A key air conditioner filter is usually made of spun fiberglass or pleated paper or cloth, enclosed in a rectangular cardboard frame. Fiberglass filters, the cheapest kind, are almost one-inch thick and are mutual in older systems. Newer central air conditioner models utilise thicker, pleated filters.

Filters clean the air that flows through your home past reducing pollen, bacteria, dust and pet dander. The air is forced through the filter (or filters) and the filter material catches the contaminates before they tin broadcast through your home. These filters besides protect the air conditioner coils and motor from the same pollutants.

Central Air Filter Sizing

It's important to buy the correct size filter for a snug fit. Otherwise, air contaminants will bypass the filter, rendering it useless. Filters come in lots of sizes, so you lot can cheque your current filter(s) or air conditioner manufacturer'south site or your owner's manual to determine the right size.

Most filters display their size on the side like this: L x W 10 D, meaning length, width, depth (or thickness). If your filters don't show this, measure it to determine the exact size. Most filters circular upward their sizes to the nearest whole inch. Then if your filter measures 19-ane/2-in. x 19-1/2-in. x 3/4-in., y'all'll need a 20-in. x 20-in. x 1-in. filter.

If yous don't have a filter, measure the slot or vent where the filter will be located. If yous live in an extra-hot climate similar Arizona, there are return vents throughout the business firm, with a filter sized to fit each vent. In other parts of the country, you lot might just take one principal filter that fits in a slot on the side, elevation or beneath your air handling unit. They're usually located in the garage, basement or utility closet.

Replacing Dirty Air Filter For Air Conditioner System Maintenance C5Media/Getty Images

Fundamental Air Filter Costs and Where To Buy

Air filters are available at home improvement stores besides as retailers like Walmart, Target and Amazon. In that location are a broad range of prices, depending on the size and type of filters you need.

Basic fiberglass filters range from about $iv to $8 per filter, while college-rated (meaning they rank higher on filter performance, more on that below) pleated filters tin can price $12 to $30 per filter. Some systems call for v-inch or six-inch-thick filters which tin cost upwards to effectually $70 per filter.

While you're shopping, remember: The higher the rating, the more than expensive the filter. Here are a few common rating systems:

MERV: The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) was adult by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Workout Engineers (ASHRAE). Information technology measures how well the filter performs at trapping specific types of particles. The higher the MERV rating, the higher the efficiency (and the price).

The highest MERV rating isn't ever the best choice. Air filters with the highest MERV ratings have denser and more tightly woven fibers to catch the smallest particles. Nevertheless, this means the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system must work harder to motion air through the filter, and not all systems are equipped to handle this.

The best MERV rating for your detail HVAC system is 1 that sufficiently cleans the air in your dwelling without obstructing air flow and straining the motor. Mostly, a MERV eight rating is a adept place to first. Y'all can go college if your system is newer.

FPR: The Home Depot uses Filter Functioning Rating (FPR) to rate its brand of filters on a scale of 1 to 10. The higher the number, the better it filters.

HEPA: HEPA stands for "high efficiency particulate air" and is a type of pleated mechanical air filter. HEPA filters efficiently remove dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and fine airborne particles. In most cases, y'all tin can't replace a standard filter with a true HEPA filter because the ductwork isn't designed for information technology. The filters may be too large to fit or cause too much resistance to airflow.

How Often Should You Change Your Fundamental Air Filter?

How often y'all use your air conditioner and what type of filter(southward) you utilize volition determine how often y'all should change them. Typically, y'all should change out cheaper fiberglass filters every thirty days and college quality pleated filters every sixty to 90 days. In the summertime when your air conditioner is working extra difficult, yous might want to alter them more than frequently.

Here are a few signs your filters need to be changed:

Vents wait extra dusty;
Grit accumulating near the vents on your walls or ceiling;
Loss of cooling power in your AC system;
System sounds like it's straining upon start-upwards;
Your air conditioner takes longer to cool the house to the desired temperature.

Here'south another manner to put information technology — if your filters expect filthy, information technology's time to change them!

How To Change a Central Air Filter

The skillful news is, irresolute your filter(s) is piece of cake. Here's how it's done:

Find your filter location(southward). Expect for air return vents usually located on the ceiling or the wall, or a slot adjacent to your unit.
Unhook the latch on the cover grille.
Remove the old filter and dispose of it.
Wipe downwards the cover grille with a microfiber material to remove any dust.
Insert the new filter, ensuring it is facing the correct direction. An arrow on the filter should signal towards the ceiling or wall, or towards your unit of measurement.
Close and latch the grille.